Adaptation of Soybean to Low Phosphorus Soils of Tropical

and Subtropical South China: A Radical Approach

The McKnight Foundation

Collaborative Crop Research Program

Project Reports 2002-2004

Xiaolong
Xiaolong Yan
Yan
Root
Root Biology
Biology Center,
Center, South
South China
China Agricultural
Agricultural University
University
<xlyan@scau.edu.cn>
<xlyan@scau.edu.cn>
 Project Partners:
South China Agricultural University
The Pennsylvania State University

in collaboration with
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences
China Agricultural University
Zhejiang University
Purdue University
Cornell University
The Problem: Increasing Soybean Production on Low-P Soils

Soybean Production in China (% Cropland) Phosphorus Status in China (Bray II P)

Light green: <15% (sparse) Pink <30 mg/kg (moderately deficient)
Green: 15~50% (moderately intensive) Red: <20 mg/kg (deficient)
Dark green: >50% (intensive) Dark red: <10 mg/kg (severely deficient)
Phosphorus Deficiency of Soybean in South China

+P -P
160 kg P/ha No P added
The Goal: Developing new soybean varieties
with good adaptation to low-P soils
The Approach: Improving Root Traits thus P Efficiency
through Interdisciplinary Research

2
Physiological
Mechanisms

3
Germplasm
Screening & Molecular Joint Training
Breeding
1 Biology 6 & Extension

4
Ecological &
Economic Impacts
5
 Module 1
1 Germplam Screening and Conventional Breeding

Activities:

Formation of an 'Applied Core Collection'

of soybean germplasm materials
Field screening of soybean germplasm
materials for P efficiency
Genetics and breeding of root traits and/or
P efficiency
 Formation of the
'Applied Core Collection'
of soybean germplasm

Soybean germplasm database Chinese Soil Database

(～20,000 accessions）
The Results of ““Applied
Applied Core Collection ”:
Collection”
308 accessions
• 80 varieties/landraces from South China
• 98 varieties/landraces from Central China
• 70 varieties/landraces from North China
• 40 exotic varieties
• 30 wild/semi -wild soybeans
wild/semi-wild
SCAU Boluo

Field screening of soybean germplasm

materials for P efficiency

Long’an Yingde
Contrasting materials in the “core collection”
of soybean germplasm on low-P soils
Genetics and breeding for P efficiency and root traits
Local Varieties P-Efficient Lines

Back cross populations

Diallel cross populations
Recombinant inbred line populations
Conventional Variety P-Efficient Lines
Eight elite breeding lines were selected to participate
in the National Soybean Variety Trials in 2004
Table 1 Preliminary results from the National Regional Variety Trial (Summer 2004)

Soybean Line/Variety Growth PeriodRoot Architecture Yield

(day) ( kg/ ha)
Yuexia 1 98 Shallow 3699. 2
Yuexia 2 95 Intermediate 3625. 2
Yuexia 3 120 Shallow 5160. 6
Yuexia 4 98 Intermediate 3333. 5
Yuexia 5 112 Shallow 4106. 4
Gui 0114-1 106 Shallow 3891. 9
Gui 0114- 2 99 Intermediate 3965. 9
Gui 0104- 1 104 Shallow 4624. 2
Gui 0103- 4 99 Shallow 4207. 5
Guixia 1( Good Check) 125 Intermediate 3300. 2
Bendi 2 (Bad Check) 98 Deep 1402. 0
 Module 2
2
Root Traits Identification and Physiological Mechanisms

Activities:

Root Architecture
Root Morphology
Root Exudation
Root Architecture and P efficiency in Soybean
Root architecture and P efficiency in a core collection of soybean
germplasm materials (Zhao et al., 2004, Chinese Sci. Bulletin)
35
II III
30

25
Yield at High P (kg/hm2)

20 High P Average

15

10

0 Low P Average
I IV

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Yield at Low P (kg/hm2)

Shallow ( ) Intermediate ( ) Deep ( )

 Quantification of root architecture:
from computer modeling to in situ measurements

Computer Paper Sand/Soil In situ

modeling Pouch culture observation
Reconstruction of 3-D root architecture
from 2-D digital Images
The Phytotron-Rhizotron
Complex at SCAU
Observation of root growth in situ in the rhizotron
 Module 3
3
Molecular Biology of Root Traits

Activities:

Gene mapping
Gene cloning and functional analysis
Gene transformation
 QTL Mapping

Soybean genetic linkage map with SSR markers

 Cloning and functional analysis of P -inducible
P-inducible
genes related to root growth and development
MP LP shoot MP LP root HP root
Shoot20’ 1h 4h 12h 24h 36h root 20’ 1h 4h 12h 24h 36h 20’ 12h 36h Auxin-
binding
128 protein
ABP19

36 Alcohol
dehydrogenase

unknown
227

Peroxidase
343 precursor

MAPK

rRNA

(Genes identified with SSH. Zhao J. et al., unpublished)

 Low P Stratified P High P

shoot basal root tap root tip tap root base lateral root

L1 S1 H1 L2 S2 H2 L3 S3 H3 L4 S4 H4 L5 S5 H5

Spatial expression of the mdr gene (A gene possibly conferring root

gravitropism) in the paper pouch system (Shi et al., unpublished)
 Module 4
4 Agro-ecological Analysis of P-efficient Soybean Varieties

Activities:

Phosphorus cycling
Nutrient interactions
Intercropping/rotation
Phosphorus Cycling
Soil and leachate
Sampling
Phosphorus loss in the field (Cai et al., unpublished)

Genotype P in leachate P in run-off

(mg/L) water (mg/L)
BX10 (P efficient) 0.576 a 0.152 c

GD2 (P efficient) 0.638 a 0.153 c

BD2 (P inefficient) 0.610 a 0.194 b

BD4 (P inefficient) 0.594 a 0.433 a

Field work in USA using rainfall simulator (Photo by A. Henry)
Nutrient interactions
I. Field study II. Solution culture III. Sand culture
Rotation/Intercropping
 Module 5
5 Agro-economical Assessment of P-Efficient Crops

Activities:

Farm household survey

Market analysis and modeling
Farm household survey
Market analysis and modeling
 Findings of Economic Component
™Economics will determine whether rural households
adopt new varieties.

™Current varieties and production systems are not viable

on a monetized basis. Households produce only for
their own needs.

™Potential of doubling or tripling of yields will produce

economic value conditional on development of markets
for surplus.

™Market sale of soybean supply will only occur when

rural households view soybeans as providing returns to
labor that exceed returns available from other activities.
 Module 6
6 Training and Extension

Activities:

Scientific workshop
Lecture series
Joint-training
Extension
International Workshop on Adaptation of Crops to Low-Phosphorus Soils in the
Tropics and Subtropics: Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Development
May 6-11, 2002 Guangzhou, China
Series of seminars/lectures by US scientists
SCAU student/staff in US
PSU students in China
Farmer Participatory Research
Farm extensionists working with SCAU staff
Acknowledgements

SCAU Group PSU Group

The CCRP Partners

Acknowledgements
McKnight Foundation Collaborative Crop Research Program